Maybe your brain works better.
When we go for walks, a recurring thought comes to mind. Sparky likes to lead. That’s good, his confidence is admirable. I can’t help thinking how much Sparky, from this angle, resembles the X-ACTO model 1744 electric pencil sharpener I bought for my classroom.
I’ve been scanning and organizing old photos.
Sparky was getting bored with the project until we got to these photos from when I was an RA during my senior year at Ohio State. I and the other new RA’s in the Barrett Complex where the fun group. Lisa thought it would be a good idea if we got a pet rabbit. Pets weren’t allowed in the dorm, so it seemed a little subversive. Only a little because the dorm director and assistant dorm director were also new and in favor of fun.
Nature: Best Science Images of 2024
Take a minute to check out those images, they are quite splendid. Well, a couple weren’t great, but the rest are amazing.
Sparky and I are relaxing with coffee, and he wanted me to post this photo of an ermine chimneying up a crack. Sparky told me that if he didn’t have to be my spirit animal, he’d quite like to be a dog weasel.
Sparky and I are watching Isle of Dogs from 2018. We are enjoying it, but it may not be for everyone. Being directed by Wes Anderson would be quirky enough, but it’s filmed in stop motion animation. It looks like an indie film, but has loads of voice talent. The dogs are voiced by Bryan Cranston, Edward Norton, Scarlett Johansson, Bill Murray , Yoko Ono, and others.
If Sparky was a SAG member, he’d be the Billy Bob Thornton of dog actors.
Billy Bob Thornton has a great range.
Sparky can do that.
On our walk yesterday, I tricked Sparky into taking the path through the woods. Instead of going over the land bridge and through the orchard, we did a parking lot walk, then into the woods. We didn’t get far before we came upon what looks like coyote scat on the path. Sparky checked it out, and noped out of there. It looked pretty fresh.
Sparky likes to say that old dogs don’t need new tricks, because they’ve got plenty of tricks up their sleeves.
Sparky is in favor of naps, so likes to hop up and flop over. I have to hold him up and rub his belly. If I stop for too long, he gets antsy.
You’d think a guy would be self-conscious if his breath smelled like his poop, but Sparky thinks it’s funny. I had a colleague at NoRo who thought it was funny to cut a silent, but deadly fart, then call a student up to his desk for a chat. It’s fine, he was a coach and the student was one of his players.
© 2026 Big Stick Physics
Theme by Anders Noren — Up ↑
